• Schaeffler presents expanded Food program in Hanover
• Sustainable engineering generates extensive customer benefits
• IoT solutions such as Schaeffler OPTIME and OPTIME C1 reduce operating costs and use of resources

Schaeffler will be demonstrating how further successes in sustainability can be achieved in the food and packaging industry at Hannover Messe 2022. The automotive and industrial supplier is not simply confining its efforts to new products in this area, however, with the company practicing and recommending a much more comprehensive approach to the development of solutions. Schaeffler will also use practical examples and development projects to demonstrate the potential of sustainable engineering in Hanover.

As Ralf Moseberg, Senior Vice President Industrial Automation at Schaeffler, emphasizes: “The foundation for the use of resources is laid as early as the design and development phases for production equipment, and must focus on comparing the efficiency and operating points of the various drive systems, such as torque motors or geared motors, extending the relubrication intervals and service life of components, reducing friction, and optimizing seals.” Reducing the lubricant requirement has multiple benefits for the operator and the environment, due to the additional savings on water, cleaning agents, and reprocessing costs that are always generated in parallel.

Extended Food program for safe, clean, and sustainable food production

Specific environmental influences and legal requirements call for the use of adapted rolling bearing solutions. As part of its new Food program (series FD), Schaeffler is offering a range of corrosion-resistant and sealed standard deep groove bearings, which are supplied with an initial application of lubricants produced to food industry standards, in order to satisfy such conditions. In addition, Schaeffler will be presenting new housing units made of white, glass fiber reinforced plastic, which provides high levels of resistance for sensitive food processing applications. The lubricant compound Schaeffler Lubtect is recommended for particularly demanding operating conditions and lubricating requirements. Lubtect is a porous but dimensionally stable polymer, which ensures continuous and reliable lubrication.

Conserving resources in the food and packaging industry

IoT solutions such as the Schaeffler OPTIME condition monitoring system and the smart Schaeffler OPTIME C1 lubricator also help to avoid rejects and conserve resources accordingly. In addition to smoother production, operators who use the OPTIME system also benefit from no longer having to hold stock of spare parts and replacement units over many years. The energy and raw material savings associated with the now nonessential production of unnecessary spare parts will lead to improved energy footprints for production locations. In production plants, OPTIME C1 helps to prevent overgreasing and lubricant egress at the bearing positions, with resulting reductions also achieved here in the large quantities of water and chemicals that would otherwise be required for the necessary cleaning work.

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